Showing posts with label Ouai. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ouai. Show all posts
5/29/2017
May Favourites
May, a month of goodness (Auckland Writers Fest, full license acquiring, sparkly brogues) and also some less than great things. In the interest of keeping things positive and upbeat, today I'm focusing on some of the things I loved in May. There's quite a bit of beauty, including another mascara dalliance as well as a revisited book and the album I'm a bit obsessed with...
An Extraordinary Theory of Objects by Stephanie LaCava: Why it has taken me so long to revisit this book, I have no idea. Objects, their associations and their stories have always fascinated me. I am that person who will want to know where items of interest are from in people's houses and find the mini curations we display and collect so interesting. Naturally this book was always going to appeal to me, and the way in which it discusses anxiety and outsiderness is so refreshing. LaCava's writing is fantastic.
Texturizing Hair Spray x Ouai: This was a buy from Sephora Melbourne last year and I love it. It also acts as a dry shampoo in part which is a major bonus for me too. I spritz it liberally through my hair and it just adds a bit of oomph. Basically it makes me look like I've at least attempted to style my thick, unruly hair. It also helps that it's scented beautifully too.
Modern Renaissance Eyeshadow Palette x Anastasia Beverly Hills: It's probably no surprise this palette is making an appearance this month. I've really only used this when I've been wearing eyeshadows. They're beautifully pigmented, versatile and easy to blend. Honestly the colours are perfect. This palette's getting a lot of attention but it is so worth it.
Brow Definer* x Mellow Cosmetics: Mellow Cosmetics have only come to my attention recently and it's their brow products I've been loving. Pictured is their brow definer pencil, I have the shade Chocolate. It's not too crazy pigmented but it's just enough to add a bit of something-something to the brows. I love the angled pencils like this too as they're so quick to swipe through, brush with the spoolie and be done. Lazy makeup ftw.
Harry Styles: Possibly cheating a bit by including this album, given it only came out just over two weeks ago. It's pretty much been in my car's stereo ever since. What I love most is the distinct story the album takes you on from start to finish. The way the tracks are arranged works perfectly and there's a mix of softer ballads with rock and some slight country+alt-pop influences. The songs are catchy as anything too. If you're skeptical because Styles started out in a boy band, put your cynicism aside and give this a listen, you may well be surprised. Standout tracks for me are; Carolina, Only Angel, Ever Since New York and From The Dining Table.
The Volume Mascara x Kevyn Aucoin: So I feel like a bit of a mascara traitor, having endless flirtations with various formulas and brands. I do feel like in Kevyn Aucoin's Volume mascara though that I've found the one. Now that is a bold, bold claim. For now though I can see why this mascara is so highly regarded. The secret is in the lash fibres, they take things next level. As it's a tubing formula it's super easy to remove at the end of the day as well. I lovelovelove it.
Pure Clay Mask* x L'Oreal: You know that time in between seasons when your skin packs a sad? That is my skin currently. When I feel like things are looking a bit red or congested I've been reaching for the charcoal clay mask. It's gentle, but it leaves things looking a lot smoother and clearer.
-What were your May Favourites?
*PR Sample
11/14/2016
The Melbourne Beauty Haul
Why, hello, I am back after a nearly two week hiatus from blogging. I'll tell you a little secret, that wasn't meant to happen but casting my mind back to right before I went on holiday, I was exhausted. The idea of putting up halfhearted content just so I could feel a personal sense of achievement didn't sit right so hence I was MIA. Never fear, I am back, for now. In case Instagram wasn't enough of a PSA for you, I've just got back from an eight day jaunt to Melbourne. It was magic and I had an amazing time. Naturally a little bit of beauty shopping happened although on the whole I was pretty disciplined in this department. Nonetheless, I thought I'd compile a post of what I grabbed for nosy types beauty enthusiasts. Side note: This is not a brag or 'look at all the things I got'. I knew about this trip for a while and saved accordingly so that I could have many a 'treat yo'self' moment. Read on if you want to know what ended up in my stuffed suitcase...
Lavinila Vanilla Grapefruit Deoderant-There's a couple of Sephora stores in Melbourne so I visited them, for myself and also to grab a couple of things for friends. It was often crazy busy in there so I didn't stay long, grabbing what I wanted and leaving speedily but I did spy Lavinila in the corner one day and got excited. A few years back Tamira sent me one of these and I loved it so I had to buy another one. Vanilla grapefruit smelt just divine and while this was by no means an essential, it's going to be a godsend come Summer when I'm one Sweaty Betty. TMI? Sorry...
Miu Miu Eau De Parfum Rollerball-Another thing Sephora is known for is their selection of rollerballs and minis (see below). While Sephora Australia perhaps doesn't have quite the extensive offering that is available in the US, it's still not half bad. The Miu Miu fragrance is one of my favourites to spritz in the department stores at the moment. Rollerballs aren't really a thing in NZ so I do try to grab one when the opportunity arises. Miu Miu is a largely inoffensive, fresh Summery fragrance. Go give it a spritz, y'know copy doesn't do fragrance any justice.
Ouai Texturising Spray-I can't find this online but this was one of the minis in Sephora. They also had mini bottles of the Ouai Wave Spray too among other things. Part texturiser, part dry-shampoo, this is designed to give your hair that lived in-loose waves vibe. Think Kendall Jenner and Khloe Kardashian, who Ouai founder Jen Atkin often tends to the tresses of. I can't wait to use this.
Revlon Sculpt and Highlight Kit in Light/Medium-When I was in Melbourne, Priceline had one of their notorious 40% off Cosmetics sales. It coincided with that international piece of baffling news last week and I'm not saying that caused a frenzy among us beauty loving women in Australia. It was however quite crowded and everyone was having a good rummage in the shelves. Anyway, this product which I think is only available in Aus and NZ was one of my finds. It was created in collaboration with Chloe Morello and is available in two colour options. The lightest surprisingly seemed to be more readily available. I swatched this and the shades seemed so buttery smooth with not too much fallout so I will be curious to see how this performs on my face.
La Roche Posay Anthelios XL Sunscreen-This wasn't purchased in the Priceline sale but I'd planned to get it anyhow because I had heard that La Roche Posay sunscreens are great for combination-oily skin. That and they sit nicely under makeup. Priorities, right? Well this certainly delivers. In terms of texture, it reminds me of my Too Faced primer, but maybe just a touch more satin-like. It is not silicone feeling though and doesn't look greasy or heavy on the skin. If you're after a lightweight, high SPF, this one's SPF 50, then check this out.
Maybelline Hypersharp Wing Liquid Liner-One of my friends recommended this liner to me as a more affordable alternative to the Kat Von D tattoo liner that we all know and love. Annoyingly I don't think this one is available in NZ but if you're ever in Australia, be sure to grab one. It's obviously popular as there was a queue forming by this section of the Maybelline stand on 40% off day. I've not opened this yet but I will report back when I've been using it.
Too Faced Love Flush Blush in I Will Always Love You-Part of the appeal of these blushers has to be their Polly Pocket style packaging. That magnetic heart just gets a whole generation of nineties kids excited I am sure. These blushers also come in a range of beautiful colours so I had a tough time choosing one. In the end I settled for this peachy pink as most of my blush colours are more on the nude side of things. That and I know Anna and Fiona both have this shade and love it.
Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler-Back when I first started getting into watching and reading beauty blogs, about four years ago now, everybody had a pair of these. In fact I've come close to buying some a few times now and finally decided to do just that on this trip. I've used them once so far and can already see why they get so much fuss. They're so gentle and for me at least, only one or two goes with this gives me the desired look I want for my lashes. Well worth the investment.
Jo Malone Christmas Ornament, limited edition-I can't find this on any NZ sites so I'm wondering if it's sold out already. This was picked up in duty free here in Auckland and I had no idea there was a Jo Malone counter so I was excited. This contains a miniature of their Peony and Blush Suede Cologne (my fave) and also the Grapefruit Body Creme. It's absolutely beautiful and would make a gorgeous stocking stuffer for someone, or a luxe treat for one of the ladies in your life.
The Repurchases, not pictured: So I also repurchased a couple of my favourite products when I was away; the Maybelline Age Rewind concealer which is my go-to for undereyes, Too Faced's Hangover Primer which is my all-time favourite primer and this shower gel from last month's favourites. I really need to add the full size to my Christmas list sometime soon.
-Have you tried any of these products? What did you think of them?
8/31/2016
Haircare Products I Use and Like
I'm usually not one to write much about haircare. If you're a longtime reader you will know that by now. I prefer the undone, relaxed hair vibe. I also love a good side braid every now and again and whip out my GHD's on the rare occasion I can be bothered. So y'know that for me to be doing a haircare post to begin with, I have to really like the products. Today I thought I'd share with you the haircare things I've been reaching for on the regular. For the most part they're all pretty cheap and cheerful and I love 'em for that. Oh and just for context, I have thick, semi-coloured hair. From what my hairdresser tells me it's pretty healthy aside from the dryness where it was coloured. Otherwise, I have no major qualms with it. Anyway, the products...
Batiste Dry Shampoo-I'm very late to the Batiste party as every beauty blogger on Earth seems to have raved and discussed this at some point. I'm sure you all know how this works. This product is amazing for giving your hair a bit of a refresh in between washes. Just make sure you massage it in properly if you have dark hair like me because it will stand out. Otherwise you can't really go wrong. I still prefer Bumble and Bumble's Pret A Powder to this but for a budget-friendly alternative it isn't half bad.
Lush Sunny Day Anti Static Hair Detangler*-If I don't use some kind of anti-frizz product on my hair after it's washed, hair that resembles Anne Hathaway's pre-makeover is a very real possibility. This is where Sunny Day comes in and saves the day. In honesty, I wasn't hugely keen on the scent at first but I got over it because this product is fantastic. Seriously, if I use this my hair doesn't take on a mind of its own. It stays reasonably flat and static-free. I'll definitely be repurchasing this once I run out. It's going to be a godsend in Summer.
Ouai Wave Spray-Ouai's wave spray has already made an appearance on the blog so I'll keep things brief. If you want waves and a bit of body without the crunch of a standard sea salt spray, this is for you. It's extremely lightweight and smells divine, being scented with Italian lemon, amber and white musk. I'm definitely going to be checking out the Ouai stand when I'm in reach of a Sephora later in the year.
Via Twirl Ties*-Having thick hair means I really don't like tying it up. Most hair-ties tend to pinch my hair and just end up feeling more uncomfortable than anything. I'm more often likely to pin it back than use a tie. Anyway, these spiral hairbands are a game changer. They don't pinch and don't leave crazy kinks in your hair. In fact, I forget I even have my hair tied up when I'm using these. They're that comfortable. I'm not gonna lie, I am rather fond of the coppery coloured ones in particular. It's the small details right?
-Have you tried any of these haircare products before? What did you think of them.
*PR Sample
7/20/2016
9 Things I'm Currently Loving
Lately I've become a lot looser with the structure of this blog. By that I mean I'm more willing to change things around, take a risk or two and not stick so religiously to my schedule, whether that be posts or what I want to stick on Instagram. Life's too short to analyse the minute details. With that in mind, I saw a similar post over on Rebecca's blog, which I love and you should all bookmark it because her content is top notch. Lists are such a perfect way to round up things and moments etc that you love so here we have it. Nine things I am loving currently in no particular order...
An abundant stack of books beside my bed. This is hardly a current love, rather more of a permanent love. During the week I usually read last thing at night and there's always something comforting about coming to bed, propping up several pillows and then choosing a book. As I am a bit of a serial-reader when it comes to books, I'm always reading more than one thing at once. At the moment that means I'm drifting between: On The Other Side*, How To Be A Woman, The Course of Love and Girl Up*.
Listening to Fleetwood Mac's Rumours album. Rumours is hands down one of my all-time favourite albums. I'm terrible at reviewing music but this album is just perfect. It's my go-to when I want a bit of escapism. You can't beat a bit of Stevie Nicks, let's be honest. My favourite songs are; Second Hand News and Gold Dust Woman but the whole thing is fantastic.
Lush Baths. Whilst there's a lot to detest about Winter, baths are one of the many blessings. More so if you have a bath bomb, book and candle burning in the background. Utter bliss. You cannot beat Lush's bath bombs and while some of them are a bit pricy, I do love them. My favourites are; Frozen, Avobath and Butterball.
Baking sweet treats. I have the biggest sweet tooth out and will take something sweet over savoury any day. Although those parmesan balls I had on Monday do challenge that. I don't get baking very often in all honesty but when I do, I am reminded how much I enjoy it. There's something very gratifying about spending an hour or two crafting something edible and then watching everyone enjoy it. Two of my go-to books for all things sweet are; Melie's Kitchen and Donna Hay's Chocolate book.
Absolutely Fabulous. "Sweetie darling. "Bitch troll from hell." "Lacroix, sweetie, Lacroix." I have a lot of love for Edina Monsoon and Pasty Stone. They're vile caricatures of fashion-types but there's just something so likeable about them. Perhaps it's because they poke fun at the world they inhabit and just genuinely have no cares to give about how they're interpreted. They have absolutely no filter either, case in point. Such a fabulous, witty show. Go give it a watch if you've never seen it.
Handwritten letters. The act of receiving and writing them. I don't do this often enough but I have friends who I don't see very often and friends that live miles, even continents away so it's really something I need to partake in more. I've made a little list of people I'm going to write letters to though as it's such an important way of keeping in touch, especially in the age of instant everything.
How To Be A Woman x Caitlin Moran. This book has been beside my bed for a while but I've finally been getting back into it properly and I am loving it. Caitlin Moran is one of my favourite writers/tweeters/people so naturally I have been immersing myself in everything she's written. I know this book came out a while back now but it's still just as relevant and worthy of attention. Her essay on feminism and discovering feminist beliefs and ideals resonated with me so much. It's the closest thing I've read that articulates how I feel on a number of points. If I wasn't worried about attracting unwanted attention, I would've done a full round of applause on the train as I read it. This is one of those books I want to give to everybody now.
Ouai Wave Spray. Ouai is the brainchild of Jen Atkin, hair stylist and the woman responsible for keeping the Kardashian's tresses, among countless others, looking so darn good. Ouai's recently been added to Sephora NZ's lineup and I'd heard a lot about the Wave Spray so I had to try it. Oh. My. God. It is so, so good. It's weightless and gives my hair the perfect amount of texture and body without taking things to the Hermione Granger levels of frizz. It also doesn't leave your hair feeling dehydrated and crispy like some salt sprays designed to create waves do. It's cruelty free as well which I love and a little goes a long way. Alexa Chung's a reported fan too should you need further enticing.
Mood boarding. This is my most recent mood board that I made and I think it has to be one of my favourites. They're the perfect visual representation of my interests and aesthetic preferences at the time. That and they're pretty to look at. I also keep a visual journal as well which is like a scaled down version of what goes on my wall. It's one of my favourite forms of escapism.
-What have you been loving lately?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
